Apparatus for mounting films and other inserts in cards



P 1965 1.. c. WILLIAMS ETAL 3,208,895

APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING'FILMS AND OTHER INSERTS IN CARDS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1Original Filed March 28, 1957 INVENTORS LEO C. WILLIAMS CLIFFORD P.ROUNSEFELL ATTORNEYS P 1965 L. c. WILLIAMS ETAL 3,208,895

APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING FILMS AND OTHER INSERTS IN CARDS Original FiledMarch 28, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 275 296 29? f q- 5 293 Q Q is 299 I I353 320 346 I 298 IN 29 292 I 235 238 240 7*- o m Q 345 347 I 360 I74\\\\\\\\\\\3 288 29 3'3 W 3sI 94 I83 O V L 339 g 326 359 o 356 I M 305 Aa 330 33 33I 3 308 310 INVENTORS LEO c. WILLIAMS BY CLIFFORD PROUNSEFELLATTOR EYS P 1965 L. c. WILLIAMS ETAL 3,208,895

APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING FILMS AND Original Filed March 28, 1957 OTHERINSERTS IN CARDS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 E I] INVENTORS LEO C WILLIAMS BYCLIFFORD P ROUNSEFELL ATTO NEYS p ,1965 c. WILLIAMS ETA]. 3,208,895

ER INSERTS IN CARDS APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING FILMS AND 0TH 5 Sheets-Sheet5 Original Filed March 28, 1957 INVENTORS LEO C. WILLIAMS CLIFFORDPROUNSEFELL tum I w QQN O mvm 8 08 m8 6m 3% mt mwm mvm vmm v9 2m 5m 287% mm 5 mm -8 N9 0: 08 gm I 8. 08 wt W E E m8 QQN 9N Low o 0 EN 0 E Q.vmm Now cow 9% s 0mm mm; N 9N 0mm m :m new 08 m8 6N EN 9m w m8 m2 m NNNmow 8N nNN am 5N fim 9N m8. m3 m3 m" mNN NNN EN mmm N N am [9 m MJATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,208,895 APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING FILMSAND OTHER INSERTS IN CARDS Leo 'C. Williams, Pearl River, N.Y., andClifford P. Rounsefell, Hillsdale, N..l., assignors to Minnesota Miningand Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minn, a corporation of DelawareOriginal application Mar. 28, I957, Ser. No. 649,159, now Patent No.2,987,099, dated June 6, 1961. Divided and this application July 27,.1960, Ser. No. 45,631

20 Claims. (Cl. 156352.)

This invention relates to an apparatus for processing classificationcards, each card having an aperture, an adhesive sheet carried by thecard and extending over the aperture and a protective cover sheetcarried in the card aperture and removably mounted to the adhesivesheet.

This application is a division of my copending patent application SerialNo. 649,159 filed March 28, 1957, now US. Patent No. 2,987,099, issuedJune 6, 1961 and said copending application, as originally filed, formsa part of this disclosure and is incorporated herein by reference.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of novel construction whichwill effectively remove a protective cover sheet from within an aperturein a card.

Another object is to provide an apparatus for feeding classificationcards to a mechanism for removing the protective cover sheet and forfeeding the stripped card to another card processing mechanism.

Still another object is to provide a novel mechanism for effectivelyremoving an adhered sheet from a blank or panel, such as a card.

Another object is to provide a novel method of and mechanism forautomatically stripping, by a peeling action, an adhered protectivecover sheet from within an aperture in a card.

A further object is to provide a novel mechanism of the character andfor the purpose above described, wherein the stripping of the coversheet from the card is advantageously and positively effected by andthrough relative movements of said card and said mechanism.

A still further object is to provide a cover sheet stripping mechanismas described above, having associated therewith in a novel mannerautomatic control means to cause a desired control function upon failureof said mechanism to strip the cover sheet from a card.

The above and further objects and novel features of the presentinvention will more fully appear from the following detailed descriptionwhen the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings. Itis to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for thepurpose of illustration only and are not intended as a definition of thelimits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like partsthroughout the several views,

FIG. 1 is a general assembly view in side elevation of an apparatuswhich will effectively remove a protective cover sheet from within anaperture in a card and shown embodied with a card feeding means andother card processing mechanisms;

FIG. 2 is a detailed face view of one form of card as initially preparedand presented to the protective cover removing machine, the filmmounting sheet on said card having a portion thereof broken away forpurposes of clearer illustration;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of said card, said viewbeing on an exaggerated scale and being taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail elevational view, partly in section, of thecover sheet stripping unit as seen approximately from the positionindicated by the line 4-4 of FIG. 1, certain of the card conveyor partsbeing omitted and one of the parts of said unit having a portion thereofbroken away for purposes of clearer illustration;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view, partly in section, of said cover sheetstripping unit looking from the left of FIG. 4, including an associatedsweep roller device, a card stop and the cover sheet detecting device,the card conveyor structure having portions thereof-broken away forpurposes of clearer illustration;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view takensubstantially on the irregular line 66 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a detail top plan view of the cover sheet gripping mechanismshown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially onthe line 88 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially onthe irregular line 99 of FIG. 4, the cam lever having a portion thereofbroken away for purposes of clearer illustration;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially onthe irregular line 10-10 of FIG. 4, the cam lever having a portionthereof broken away for purposes of clearer illustration;

FIG. 11 is a detail top plan view of the driving means for the coversheet stripping unit;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section and on anenlarged scale, showing the parts of the cover sheet stripping unit intheir respective operative positions and said unit in the process ofstripping a cover sheet from a card;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged detail elevational view, partly in section,showing the operation of the cover sheet stripping and deflecting pinelements; and

FIG. 14 is an enlarged side elevational view with certain parts brokenaway for purposes of clearer illustration.

The apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention andchosen for the purpose of illustration is particularly adapted formounting individual image bearing frames of micro-film in cards of thetype commonly employed in connection with statistical, tabulating andrecord card sorting systems and machines, and for preparing such cardsfor this purpose. Mounting of film frames in cards of this characteradvantageously provides such cards with a picture record of the datarecorded or to be recorded thereon, and facilitates classifying andsorting of the film frames, as well as filing and indexing thereof, asto subject matter. It is to be understood that the invention is not solimited and that the principles herein described are applicable to thepreparation of a variety of different cards and to the mounting of avariety of different inserts in the cards for the described and otherprocesses.

There is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, one card, indicated at 5, of the knownstatistical or tabulating machine type, which is capable of beinghandled in the machine of the illustrated embodiment and for which saidmachine has been primarily designed. This card 5 is oblong in shape andis formed of single ply cardboard or heavy relatively stitf papermaterial, and as shown, has been pre-prepared for the mounting of aframe or micro-film or other insert of like size therein. The cards 5,as presented to the machine, are each in the form shown in FIGS. 2 and3, and as shown in said figures, each card 5 contains a generallyrectangular aperture 6 extending therethrough and of an appropriate sizeto receive a frame of micro-film or otherinsert of equivalent sizetherein. The aperture 6 is located centrally between the upper and lowerlongitudinal edges of the card 5, and inwardly a selected distance fromone side edge of said card, and said aperture is made of such width orvertical dimension that it will accurately receive the uncutlongitudinal edges of the film frame or other insert. Adhesively securedto one face of the card 5 and covering the entire aperture 6 is a verythin generally rectangular sheet 7 of transparent material which iscoated on the inner surface thereof with a layer of pressure sensitiveadhesive. To eliminate'projecting edges and to avoid increasing thethickness of the card 5, the sheet 7 is preferably embedded in the faceof the card so that the outer face of said sheet lies flush with theadjacent faceof the card. The sheet 7 is utliized to retain the filmframe or other insert in the aperture 6 in the card 5 and to firmly holdsaid film frame or insert when the same is inserted into said apertureand pressed against said sheet-as'hereinafter described. Disposed withinthe aperture 6 and removably adhering to the sheet 7, is a very thintemporary cover sheet 9 of readily removable material, such as glassinepaper, said cover sheet serving to protect the adhesiveon sheet 7 duringall handling of the card prior to loading of a supply of said cards inthe machine.

For purposes to be hereinafter described, the sheet 7 on the cards 5 aspresented to the machine, is provided with four small holes 8 which arelocated inwardly from the four corners of the card aperture 6 alikeshort distances on diagonal lines extending across said corners. It willbe apparent that any card which has been prepared asabove described andwhich is of the same or substantially the same width or verticaldimension as that of the described card 5 may be handled in the machineof the illustrated embodiment.

-In the embodiment-of the invention herein disclosed, the machine, asshown inFIG. 1, includes the following:

(1) A supporting base indicated generally at 12 which is adapted tosupport various mechanismsof the machine, including a suitable drivingmechanism indicated generally at 13; v a

I (2) A card feeder indicated generally at 14 for feeding the cards 5one after another in timed relation from a supply stack of said cards;

(3) A card conveyor indicated generally at 15 for conveying the cards 5one after another in spaced relation along a horizontal rectilinearpath;

(4) A cover sheet stripping mechanism indicated generally at 16 forremoving the cover sheet 9 from the card 5;

(5) A die mechanism indicated generally at 17 for dieing-out the centralportion or section of the adhesive sheet 7 on the card 5 so as to form awindow opening in said sheet of corresponding shape to the card aperture6 but of smaller dimensions and lying within the area of said aperture,leaving a margin of exposed adhesive extending around the aperture.

(6) A mechanism indicated generally at 18 for unwinding a supply roll ofmicro-film or other insert strip;

. (7) A feeding mechanism indicated generally at 19 for feeding the filmor other insert strip to and in registry with strip severing means;

(8) A cutting, transferring and applying mechanism indicated generallyat 20 for severing the film or other insert strip into individual framesor sections, transferring each severed frame or section to card mountingposition and applying it in the aperture 6 in the card 5 and against theadhesive sheet 7 on said card; and

(9) A card delivering and stacking mechanism indicated generally at 21for receiving the finished cards, turning them over end-for-end, andstacking the same in overlapping fanned-out relation and in separatedbatches of a predetermined number.

I The above identified copending application Serial No. 647,159 containsa detailed description of the various mechanisms shown in the drawingsand set forth above.

The supporting base 12 rests on the machine foundation and comprises agenerally rectangular horizontal plate or platform 22, a pair oflongitudinally extending bars 23 located at opposite sides of saidplate, and two transversely extending standards 24 located at oppositeends of said plate, said plate and said bars being bolted or otherwisesuitably secured to said standards, and said plate being also bolted orotherwise suitably secured to said bars. The movable parts of theprotective cover stripping mechanism 16, together with the card feeder14 and conveyor 15, are all preferably driven by the driving mechanism13 which includes an electric motor 25. The motor 25 is carried by thesupporting base 12 beneath the platform 22, and is preferably mounted onsaid base in a suitable manner for pivotal up and down movement for apurpose to be presently described. The motor 25 which is of the singlephase type is supplied with electrical current from a suitable sourceand is controlled for starting and stopping purposes by a suitablemanually operated switch.

Fixed on the armature shaft of the motor 25 is a pulley V 26 which ispreferably of the well-known variable diameter or speed type whereby thespeed of operation of the machine may be regulated, as desired, throughraising or lowering of said motor. Passing around and driven by thepulley 26 is a belt 27 which also passes around and drives .a largerdiameter pulley 28. This pulley 28 is loosely mounted on a short shaft29 which extends longitudinally of the machine and is journalled insuitable bearings provided in the opposed walls of a gear box 30 and ina bracket 31 which is located outwardly of and spaced from said gearbox. The pulley 28 is thus driven continuously by the motor 25 when thelatter is started. The bracket 31 is bolted or otherwise suitablysecured to the adjacent standard 24 of the base 12, and the gear box 30is mounted on and bolted to. the platform 22 of said base.

The shaft 29 is driven by the pulley 28 through a conventional magneticclutch and brake unit indicated generally at 35, said unit including anannular driving magnet 36 which freely surrounds said shaft and isbolted or otherwise suitably secured to said pulley, an annular brakingmagnetv 37 which freely surrounds the shaft and is bolted ,or otherwisesuitably secured to the bracket 31 and an annular clutch disc 38 ofmagnetic material which is disposed between the magnets 36 and 37 and isengaged over and drivably keyed to said shaft, said key connectionproviding for limited axial movement of said clutch disc on said shafttoward and away from said driving and braking magnets. Surrounding andsuitably fixed to the hub of the pulley 28 and insulated therefrom is apair of slip rings 39 and 40 for conducting electrical current to thedriving magnet 36. It will thus be apparent that when the driving magnet36 is energized the shaft 29 will be rotated through magnetic engagementof the clutch disc 38 with said driving magnet, and that when thebraking magnet 37 'is energized the shaft 29 will be stopped and heldagainst further rotation through magnetic engagement of said clutchdiscwith said braking magnet. There is provided a handle 41 by means ofwhich the shaft 29 and the various mechanisms connected therewith may beturned or operated manually, when desired, said handle being ordinarilyremoved from the shaft, and when used it is engaged 'over the outwardlyprojecting end of siad shaft and is connected thereto in a suitablemanner.

A gear box 30 contains a serie of intermeshed gears whereby power frommotor 25 is connected to and drives a shaft 50 which, in turn, drivesthe card feeding mechanism, conveyor mechanism and protective coversheet removing mechanism in timed relation to each other.

The upper end of the gear box 30 is normally closed by a plate 51 whichis adapted to support the card feeder 14 for feeding the cards '5 oneafter another in timed relation from a supply stack thereof. The plate51 is. bolted or otherwise suitably secured to a series of brackets 52and 53 whi-ch, in turn, are bolted or otherwise suitably secured to thegear box 30; The plate 51 projects rearwardly beyond the gear box 30 andhas secured thereto a shelf 54 which is adapted to support a reservestack 55 of the cards 5 in a convenient position for jogging thereon andloading into the card feeder 14 to replenish the supply of =cards'insaid feeder during the normal operation of the machine.

The cards 5 are fed to the card conveyor 15 one at a time by anysuitable means such as the card feeder illustrated and described in oursaid copending application. The card conveyor 15 serve-s to advance andpresent successive cards to the protective cover sheet removingmechanism which is spaced at one side of the conveyor.

As shown, the conveyor 15 comprises a generally rectangular open frame170 which is of one-piece construction and is suitably ribbed at spacedpoints therealong to strengthen and stiffen the same. The frame 170 issupported at the rear thereof on the plate 51 and at the front thereofon a standard 171 and is bolted or otherwise suitably secured to saidplate and said standard. The standard 171 is bolted or otherwisesuitably secured to the base platform 22 and projects upwardlytherefrom. The frame 170 is provided at the top there of with a plate172 the upper surface of which is located substantially in the plane ofthe top of the feed roll 115 and serves to support the cards 5 duringmovement thereof along the conveyor and while they are temporarily atrest on said conveyor for performance of the card preparing and filmmounting operations thereon, as hereinafter described. The plate 172extends substantially across the entire width of the frame 170 and.along the entire length of said frame and may be made in one piece, butfor the sake of convenience in gaining access to the various mechanismsfor inspection and adjustment purposes, said plate is made in severalsections which are individually secured to the frame 170 as by clampscrews.

Suitably secured to the top of the frame 170 at one side thereof andlocated a slight distance outwardly of the norm-a1 line of travel of thecards 5 from the feeder 14 is a side guide in the form of a grooved bar174 which extends substantially the entire length of the conveyor andprojects above and below the upper surface of the sectionalized plate172. The side guide bar 174 serves to register the successive cards 5 inproper lateral position on the conveyor for accurate performance of theprotective cover stripping operation.

Disposed within the frame 170 and located relatively close to the sideguide bar 174 is a plurality of lower feed rollers 175, 176, 177, and178, which are spaced longitudinally of said frame and are disposed atan angle with respect to said side guide bar and the normal line oftravel of the card 5 along the conveyor. The rollers 175 to 178,inclusive, project through suitable clearance openings in thesecti-onalized plate 172 to substantially the upper surface of saidplate, and said rollers are arranged so that the angle of inclination ofeach of the rollers 176 to 178, inclusive, is the same and of a slightdegree, and that the angle of inclination of the first roller 175 isgreater than that of the rollers 176 to 178, inclusive. By virtue of thedescribed arrangement of the rollers 175 to 178, inclusive, and of theassociated side guide bar 174, each card 5 received from the feeder 14by the first angle roller 175 will be advanced by said roller to thesecond angle roller 176 and during such movement said card will bequickly moved by the roller 175 laterally on the conveyor and registeredagainst said side guide bar, and the registered card will thereafter bemaintained against the side guide bar and moved therealong by the otherangle rollers 176 to 178, inclusive, with a minimum amount of frictionand with little or no crowding of the card against said side guide bar.The spacing between the rollers 175 to 178, inclusive, is less than thelength or longer dimension of the cards 5 so that the latter are alwaysunder the control of said rollers to insure continued advancing movementthereof along the conveyor. The rollers 175 to 178, inclusive, in thedescribed lateral position thereof engage the cards 5 between theaperture 6 in said cards and the adjacent marginal side edge of thecards. The peripheries of the rollers 175 to 178,

inclusive, are preferably roughened, as by knurling the same, so as toprovide increased traction of said rollers on the cards.

The inclined rollers 175 to 178, inclusive, are suitably fixed on androtated by correspondingly inclined shafts 181, 182, 183, 184,respectively, which extend transversely of the conveyor frame and arejournaled at opposite'ends thereof in suitable bearings provided in saidframe. The rollers to 178, inclusive, are driven continuously and at thesame surface speed as that of the feed roll 115 by a suitable mechanismas shown in our said copending application.

Cooperating with each of the driven inclined lower rollers 17-5 to 178,inclusive, to insure positive advancing movement of the cards 5 alongthe conveyor, is an upper spring-pressed rider wheel or idler pressureroller 200 which is normally disposed at the same angle of inclinationas that of the lower roller with which it cooperates. The rider wheel200 for the inclined roller 175 is journalled on and at one end of anarm 201 which is bifurcated at said end and is pivotally mounted at theother end thereof on an adjustable eccentric stud 202 which isreleasably secured in a suitable manner in a bracket 203 which forms acomponent part of a caliper unit to be hereinafter described whichadvantageously utilizes the rider wheel 200 on the arm 201 as the meansof said unit for gauging the thickness of each card 5 passed between thesame and its cooperating lower roller 175. The arm 201 and consequentlythe rider wheel 200 carried thereby is yieldingly urged downwardly by acoil compression spring 204 to maintain said wheel engaged with itscooperating roller 175 or the top of .a card 5 passing between the same,said spring having one end thereof engaged against said arm and theopposite end thereof engaged again-st a screw 205 which is adjustablythreaded in the bracket 203 and is secured in adjusted position by alock nut 206. The degree of pressure between the driven roller 175 andits cooperating rider wheel 200 may thus be regulated or adjusted asdesired or required by turning the adjusting screw 205 in one directionor the other to increase or decrease the tension of the spring 204. Thespring 204 is preferably engaged over a short and small diameter pin onthe arm 201 and over a similar pin formed on the lower end of theadjusting screw 205 to confine said spring between said arm and saidscrew. The eccentric stud 202 provides for longitudinal adjustment ofthe arm 201 and consequently rolling adjustment of the rider wheel 200on and relative to the driven roller 175 to accurate operating positionwith respect to said roller.

The rider wheels 200 cooperating with the driven inclined rollers 176 to178, inclusive, are mounted not only for rolling adjustment on therespective rollers to proper operating positions, but to also enable theangle of inclination thereof to be varied with respect to said rollerswhereby the lateral thrust imparted to the cards 5 by the cooperatinginclined rollers and rider wheels may be further accurately controlledto a desired degree. Accordingly, these rider wheels 200 are eachjournalled on and at the lower end of a separator holder 207 which isformed at the top thereof with a round stem 208, and each of saidholders is rotatably mounted by its stem 208 and at one end of aseparate arm 209 which is split at said end to provide for clamping ofthe holder in its adjusted angular position to said arm. Thesub-assembly comprising the rider wheel 200, the holder 207 and the arm209 correlated to the driven inclined roller 176 is pivotally mounted ona bracket 210 by an adjustable eccentric stud 211 which is engaged inthe other end of said arm and is releasably secured in a suitable manneron said bracket. The sub-assemblies comprising the rider wheels 200, theholders 207 and the arms 209 correlated to the driven inclined rollers177 and 178, respectively, are pivotally mounted on a single bracket 212by adjustable eccentric studs 213 and 214, respective- 1y, which areengaged in the other ends of the respective arms 209 and are releasablysecured in a suitable manner on said bracket. The eccentric studs 213and 214 are the same as the stud 211 previously described. The brackets210, and 212 are identical in construction and they are bolted orotherwise suitably secured to the conveyor frame 170 at the side guideside thereof and at suitably spaced points along said frame.

The sub-assemblies comprising the rider wheels 200, the holders 207 andthe arms 209 are yieldingly urged downwardly under spring pressure so asto maintain said wheels engaged with the respective rollers 176 to 178,inclusive, or with the tops of the cards 5 passing and positionedbetween said rollers and their cooperating rider wheels. Also, thespring pressure exerted upon the rider wheels 200 of said sub-assembliesis controlled in a novel manner such that while the cards 5 aretemporarily at rest on the conveyor and positioned against operable stopmeans, to be hereinafter described, for arresting the movement of thecards independently of the conveyor at predetermined points spaced alongsaid conveyor and for holding said cards at said points for apredetermined interval against movement by the conveyor, a relativelylight pressure is applied by the rider wheels upon the stopped cards soas to maintain the same against the stop means without buckling of saidcards, and just as or immediately after the stop means are operated torelease the stopped cards for further movement by the conveyor, arelatively heavy pressure is applied by the rider wheels upon thereleased cards whereby instant and positive further movement of thereleased cards by the conveyor will occur and is assured withoutslipping or lagging of the cards on said conveyor. The describedvariable pressure is applied to all ofthe rider wheels 200 in unison andis effected during each cycle of operation of the machine by elementswhich are constructed, mounted, operated and controlled as follows.

Each of the brackets 210, and 212 has mounted thereon for pivotalmovement about a horizontal longitudinal axis, as at 218, a lever '219which is constructed to surround the upper forked end of the bracket andto provide at the inner side thereof a longitudinal portion which, inthe case of the bracket 212 overlies both arms 209 on said bracket, andin the case of the bracket 210, overlies the single arm 209 thereon. Acoil compression spring 220 is disposed between the single arm 209carried by the bracket 210 and the lever 219 on said bracket, andbetween each arm 209 carried by the bracket 212 and the lever 219 onsaid bracket. The spring 220 has one end thereof engaging against therespective arm 209 and the opposite end engaging against the lever 219and is preferably engaged over short and small diameter pins on the armand the lever to confine the same therebetween. Each of the levers 219is provided in the outer portion thereof with an adjustable abutmentmember 221 in the form of a machine screw threaded therein and locked inadjusted position by a lock nut 222. The abutment members 221 on all ofthe levers 219 are arranged and adjusted to be simultaneously engaged byarms 223 which are disposed within and project outwardly from the forkedupper ends of the brackets 210 and 212 and are clamped to or otherwisesuitably fixed on a rock shaft 224. The rock shaft 224 extendslongitudinally of the conveyor and is journalled in suitable bearings inthe brackets 210 and 212.

Keyed and suitably secured to the rock shaft 224 at a suitable positiontherealong and preferably adjacent to and forwardly of the bracket 210is a lever 225 which projects outwardly from said shaft beyond theadjacent side of the conveyor frame 170. Pivotally connected by a pin226 to the free end of the lever 225 is the upper end of a cam strap 227the lower end of which is engaged over and guided by a grooved hub 228which is keyed and suitably secured to the cam shaft 50. Disposed abovethe camshaft 50 and journalled at'229 on the cam strap 227 is a camfollower 230 which engages a cam 231 that is bolted or otherwisesuitably secured to'the hub 228. The follower 230 is yieldingly held inengagement with the cam 231 by a coil extension spring 232 having oneend thereof connected to the lever 225 and the other end suitablyconnected to the conveyor frame 170. The shaft 224 is thus cam operatedin one direction and spring operated in the opposite direction by thecam 231'and the spring 232, respectively, to rock all of the arms 223 onsaid shaft in unison. Itwill thus be apparent that when the arms 223,through continued rotation of the cam 231 and engagement of the follower230 with the high part of said cam, are cam operated in unison in aclockwise direction, positive pivotal movement will be imparted to thelevers 219 in unison in the same direction by said arms throughengagement thereof with the abutment members 221, and consequently allof the springs 220 will be compresse'd'in unison by said levers, therebyapplying increased pressure upon all of the rider wheels 200 in unison.When the arms 223 are thereafter spring operated in the oppositedirection by the spring 232 upon continued rotation of the cam 231 andengagement of the follower 230 with the low part of said cam, the levers219 are released bysaid arms and caused to follow the latter by theexpanding action of the springs 220, thus relieving some of the pressureupon the rider wheels 200. The springs 220 initially are of aliketension, and with the follower 230 engaged'with the low part of the cam231, the tension of said springs is adjusted by means of the abutmentmembers 221' sothat a light pressure is applied thereby upon the riderwheels 200 sufficient to hold the cards 5 against the stop means withoutbuckling of the same and rebounding thereof from said stop means.

' The stop means previously referred to for the cards 5 functions inconnection with the protective cover stripping mechanism tosimultaneously arrest thev forward movement of successive cards on andindependently of the conveyor for a predetermined interval and inpredetermined operative positions with respect to said mechanisms.Accordingly, the stop means correlated to the protective cover strippingmechanism comprises, in the illustrated embodiment, a single finger 235which is rocked in unison from an upper position in which it is out ofthe path of travel of the cards 5 to lower positions in which it is inthe path of travel of the cards to be engaged by their leading edges.The stop finger 235 is suitably secured to the free end of a rearwardlyprojecting portion of an arm 238 which, in plan view, is of angularformation and projects transversely of the conveyor over the side guidebar 174. The arm 238 carrying the stop finger 235 is keyed and suitablyclamped at its outer lateral end to a rock shaft 240 which extendslongitudinally of the conveyor and is journalled in suitable bearingsprovided in the brackets 210 and 212. The stop finger 235 in its loweroperative card engaging and stopping position projects downwardly beyondthe upper surface of the sectionalized card supporting plate 172 throughsuitable clearance openings formed in said plate. The arm 238 andconsequently the stop finger 235 carried thereby are rocked in unisononce during each cycle of operation of the machine in timed relationwith the feeding of the cards 5 and the operation of the protectivecover stripping mechanism. For this purpose, the rock shaft 240 haskeyed and suitably secured thereto adjacent the lever 225 a lever 242which projects outwardly from said shaft. Pivotally connected to thefree end of the lever 242 is the upper end of a cam strap 244 the lowerend of which is engaged over and guided by the hub 228 on the cam shaft50. The cam strap'244 is retained on the hub 228 by a collar 245suitably secured to said hub. Disposed below the cam shaft 50 andjournalled on the cam strap 244 is a cam follower 247 which engages acam 248 that is bolted or 9 otherwise suitably secured to the hub 228.The follower 247 is yieldingly held in engagement with the cam 248 by acoil extension spring 249 having one end thereof connected at 250 to thecam strap 244 and the opposite end connected at 251 to the angle bracket234. The rock shaft 240 is thus cam operated in one direction and springoperated in the opposite direction by the cam 248 and the spring 249,respectively, to rock the arm 238 whereby the stop finger 235 will bemoved downwardly in unison by the spring 249 into the path of travel ofsuccessive cards to be engaged by their forward or leading edges, andupwardly in unison by the cam 248 out of said path to simultaneouslyrelease the cards for further advancing movement by the conveyor.

The stop finger 235 is so arranged that when the forward motion of eachsuccessive card 5 is arrested by said stop finger, each card will be inproper operating position with respect to the protective cover strippingmechanism and each will still be under the influence of the continuouslydriven conveyor rollers 176 and 178, respectively, and the rider wheels200 cooperating with said rollers. Under these conditions, the cards 5will be continuously urged against the stop finger 235 and thereby heldagainst displacement during the performance of operations thereon, therollers 176 and 178 at this time slipping relative to their respectivecards, and the pressure of the rider wheels 200 being relieved andinsufiicient, as hereinbefore described, to buckle said cards. When thearrested cards 5 are simultaneously released upon upward movement of thestop finger 235, each will immediately be taken over by the respectiverollers 176 and 178 and the cooperating rider wheels 200 and, throughincreased pressure applied at this time by all of the rider wheels onthe cards, as hereinbefore described, it will be instantly andpositively advanced from its stop positions and moved further along theconveyor. The described downward and upward movements of the stop finger235 occur in planes normal to the plane of travel of the cards 5, andwhen said stop finger is raised to release the cards engaged thereby,upward displacement of said cards with and by the stop finger isprevented by strippers which extend transversely of the path of travelof the cards and are located above said path and adjacent to the stopfinger 235 and they are suitably secured to the plate 172 only at theends thereof opposite the side guide bar 174.

As previously stated, the rider wheel 200 which cooperates with thedriven inclined conveyor roller 175 to advance the successive cards 5,also advantageously serves as the means of a card calipering or excesscard detecting device for gauging the thickness of each card passedbetween said roller and said rider wheel. The calipering or excess carddetecting device functions to cause a control action of the machine,such as stopping of the machine, in the event more than one card 5 at atime is passed between the driven roller 175 and its companion riderWheel 200.

The card calipering or excess card detecting device is more clearlyshown in our copending application and since the specific structure isnot essential to this invention, the details are not set forth herein.

The cover sheet stripping mechanism 16 is mounted on the base plate orplatform 22 and comprises a frame or main bracket 270 which is locatedin proper position longitudinally and laterally of said platform by atransversely extending key 271 and a stop block 272 disposed at rightangles to said key and having threaded therein an adjustable stop bolt273, said key and said block being suitably secured to the upper surfaceof the platform. The frame 270 is provided in the underside thereof witha suitable keyway to receive the key 271, and when so engaged, saidframe is moved along said key and the platform 22 until it contacts thestop bolt 273, thus quickly and easily locating the mechanism 16 in itsproper operating position in the machine. Following this, the

frame 270 is immovably bolted to the platform 22. The frame 270 projectsupwardly from the platform 22 outwardly of the conveyor 15 at the sideguide side thereof and is formed with a horizontal shelf 274 whichprojects inwardly from said frame beneath said conveyor. The frame 270has bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the top thereof a bracket275 which projects inwardly from said frame over the conveyor 15.

The various operable parts of the cover sheet stripping mechanism 16 aredriven through driving connections therefor with the cam shaft 50. Forthis purpose, the cam shaft 50 has keyed and suitably secured thereonbetween the frame 270 and the previously described cam supporting hub228, a sprocket 276 around which passes a chain 277 which extendsupwardly from said sprocket and also passes around a similar sprocket278. This sprocket 278 is keyed and suitably secured on the outer end ofone shaft 279 of a conventional angle gear drive unit 280 having anothershaft 281 which is disposed at right angles to the shaft 279 andprojects outwardly beyond opposite ends of said unit. Slack in the chain277 is compensated for by an idler sprocket 282 which is journalled onand at the free end of an arm 283 which is adjustably clamped to a stud284 secured in any suitable manner to the frame 270. The driven shaft281 of the angle gear drive unit 280 has keyed and suitably securedthereon one part 285 of a conventional coupling 286, the other part 287of which is keyed and suitably secured to one end of a short shaft 288which is journalled in suitable bearings in the frame 270 and projectsinwardly beyond said frame toward the conveyor 15. The shaft 288 isdriven through the described driving connections therefor with the camshaft 50 to make one complete revolution for each cycle of operation ofthe machine and, hence, the shaft 288 may be correctly referred to asthe cam shaft for the cover sheet stripping mechanism 16.

The cam shaft 288 has keyed and suitably secured thereon a hub 289 towhich is bolted or otherwise suitably secured a cam 290 which engages acam follower 291 journalled on and at the free lower end of a lever 292.This lever 292 is releasably clamped for adjustment purposes at theupper end thereof to a short rock shaft 293. The shafts 288 and 293extend transversely of the machine, and the shaft 293 is journalled atopposite ends thereof in suitable bearings provided in inner and outerportions of the bracket 275. The cam follower 291 is yieldingly held inengagement with the cam 290 by a coil extension spring 294 having oneend thereof connected to the lever 292 and the opposite end connected at295 to the conveyor frame 170. Keyed and suitably secured to the innerend of the rock shaft 293 is a spur pinion 296 which is disposed withina shallow chamber 297 formed in the inner face of the inner portion ofthe bracket 275. The inner portion of the bracket 275 is bifurcated toreceive the rear end of an arm 298 which projects forwardly of saidbracket above the conveyor 15. The arm 298 is releasably clamped foradjustment purposes at the inner end thereof to a short transverse pin299 which is journalled in suitable hearings in the bracket 275 and haskeyed and suitably secured thereto a spur pinion 300 which meshes withthe spur pinion 296. The spur pinions 296 and 300 are normally concealedby a cover plate 301 which is removably secured in a suitable manner tothe bracket 275. The arm 298 has secured in the free forward end thereoftwo pins 302 which are transversely aligned and spaced apart such thatthe distance between the axes thereof is equal to the distance betweenthe axes of two of the holes 8 in the adhesive sheet 7 on the card 5 asspaced transversely or across the smaller dimension of said card. Thecard stopping finger 235 is so located longitudinally of the conveyor 15that when the card 5 is moved into engagement with and stopped by saidfinger and is also engaged With the side guide bar 174, the two leadingholes 1'1 8 in the adhesive sheet 7 on said card will be disposed indirect vertical alignment with the pins 302 on the arm It will thus beapparent that the rock shaft 293 is cam operated in one direction andspring operated in the opposite direction by the cam 290-andspring 294,respectively, and that as a result of such rocking movement of saidshaft, the arm 298 and the pins 302 thereon will berocked through thepinions 296 and 300 downwardly toward the conveyor 15 by the spring 294,and upwardly away from said conveyor by the cam 290. Under theseconditions and with a cardproperly positioned beneath the pins 302against the stop finger 235 and the side guide bar 174, the pins 302upon downward movement thereof will enter the two leading holes 8 in theadhesive sheet 7 on the stopped card and engage the cover sheet9-rearwardly of the leading edge and adjacent the opposite cornersthereof, and upon continued downward movement of said pins the latterwill strip opposite corner portions of the cover sheet from the adhesivesheet and deflect said corner portions downwardly beyond the cardsupporting plate 172 through a suitable clearance opening formed in saidplate, as clearly illustrated in FIG. 13 wherein the stripped anddeflected corner portions of the cover sheet are indicated at 9a.

The stripped and deflected corner portions 9a of the cover sheet 9 aretemporarily held by the pins 302 in their deflected positions shown inFIG. 13 until said corner portions are firmly gripped by a gripper whichis arranged beneath the card supporting plate 172 and is operated intimed relation with theoperation of the pins 302. After the deflectedcorner portions 9a of the cover sheet 9 are gripped by the gripper, thearm 298 and the pins 302 thereon are moved upwardly by and throughcontinued rotation of the cam 290 and returned to their originalpositions in which said pins are disposed clear of the line of travel ofthe cards and clear of the card acted upon and at rest beneath the sameon the conveyor 15, as clearly shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. As more clearlyshown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 13, the gripper for gripping the deflectedcorner portions 9a of the cover sheet 9 comprises an upwardly andforwardly inclined lever form of gripper. body 305 which is keyed andsuitably secured at the lower end thereof to the inner end of a sleeve306 which extends transversely of the conveyor 15. The sleeve 306 isslidably-engaged over a short rock shaft 307 and is journalled on saidrock shaft for .rocking movement relative thereto.. The rock shaft 307is journalled at opposite ends thereof in suitable bearings provided inbrackets 308 which. are bolted or otherwise suitably secured to theshaft 274 and project forwardly of said shelf to receive said shaft. Thesleeve 306 has keyed to the outer end thereof a short vertical arm 309to the lower free end of which is pivotally connected by a pin 310 theforward end of a connecting link 311. The link 311 is pivotallyconnected at the rear end thereof by a pin 312 to the freeend of aforwardly curved laterally offset portion of a lever 313 which islocated rearwardly of the cam shaft 288 and is loosely mounted at theupper end thereof on the rock shaft 293 for rocking movement relative,to said shaft. The lever 313 has journalled thereon at 314 a camfollower 315 which engages a cam 316 that is bolted or otherwisesuitably secured to the hub 289. The follower 315 is yieldingly held inengagement with the cam 316 by a coil extension spring 317 having oneend thereof connected at 319 to the conveyor frame 170. It will thus beapparent that the gripper body 305 is rocked by the cam 316 in aclockwise direction, i.e., forwardly and downwardly, from the positionthereof shown in FIG. 6, and is returned to said position by thecontracting action of the spring 317 under the control of said cam. Thecam 316 and the described operating connections for the gripper body 305are so chosen that said gripper body is roekeddur ing each cycle ofoperation of themachine from the normal full line position shown in FIG.12 to 'substantiallythe broken line position thereof shown in saidfigure, and that such rocking movement occurs at a speed which isaccelerated to substantially the surface speed of the card 5 in movingfrom the cover sheet stripping mechanism 16 at the first locality towardthe mechanism 17 at the second locality along the conveyor 15.

j The gripper body 305 is formed at the top thereof with twotransversely spaced cover sheet gripping surfaces 320 which aredownwardly inclined forwardly and outwardly to receive the stripped anddeflected corner'portions 9a of the cover sheet 9 at substantially thesame angle of inclination thereof. Disposed at opposite sides of thegripper body 305 are two gripper-jaws 321 and 322 having jaw portions323 which project inwardly over and co operate with the grippingsurfaces 320 on said body to grip the stripped anddeflected cornerportions 9a of the cover sheet 9 therebetween. The. gripper jaw 321 issuitably secured to the upper surface of a rearwardly extendingactuating arm 324, and-the gripper jaw 323 is suitably secured totheouter surface. of a collar 325. which is formed on one end of atransverse stub shaft-326 that is journalled in a suitable bearing inthe gripper body 305 and has the arm 324 suitably secured to the otherend thereof. The arm 324 has journalled thereon at the free rear endthereof a cam roller 327 which is engaged in a cam groove 328 formed inthe adjacent surface of a vertically extending segmental cam 329 whichis keyed at the lower'end'thereof to the previously described rock shaftTherock shaft 307 has keyed thereto a short vertical arm 330 to thelower free end of which is pivotally connected by a pin 331 the forwardend of a connecting link 332. The link 332 is pivotally connected at therear end thereof by a pin 333 to the free end of a forwardly curvedlaterally offset portion of a lever 334 which is also located rearwardlyof the cam shaft 288 and is also loosely mounted at the upper endthereof on the rock shaft 293 for rocking movement relative to said rockshaft. The lever 334 has journalled thereon at 335 a cam follower-336which engages a cam 337 that is bolted or otherwise suitably secured tothe hub 289. The follower 336 is yieldingly held in engagement with thecam 337 by a coil extension spring 338 having one end thereof connectedat 339 to the segmental cam 329 and the opposite end connected at 340 tothe gear box 30. Itwill thus be apparent that the segmental cam 329 isrocked by the cam 337 in a clockwise direction from the normal positionthereof shown in FIG. 5, and is returned to said position by thecontracting action of the spring 338 under the control of the cam 337.

The contour of the cam 337 is so chosen, and the operation of thesegmental cam 329 is so timed, that during each cycle of operation ofthe machine, said segmental cam is initially rocked relative to thegripper body 305 in a clockwise direction from the position thereofshownin FIG. 5 to the full line position shown in FIG. 12, and thencontinued in said direction in unison with and at the same acceleratedspeed as that of said gripper body. Under these conditions, the gripperjaws 321 and 322 will, through engagement of the cam roller 327 in thecam groove 328vin the segmental cam 329, be first rocked toward thegripper body 305 to closed positions on the deflected corner portions 9aof the cover sheet 9, as shown in FIG. 12, and upon rocking movement ofsaid gripper body from the full line position to the broken lineposition thereof shown in FIG. 12, said cover sheet will beprogressively peeled completely from the adhesive sheet 7 through theopen end of the card aperture 6 and the opening in the plate 172, andcarried away from the card 5 to a position clear of said card and saidplate, as shown in broken lines in FIG. '12. Thereupon the. segmentalcam 329 is again first rocked relative to the gripper body 305 but inthe return direction, and then continued in said direction in unisonwith the return movement of said gripper body, whereby the gripper jaws321 and 322 are first rocked away from the gripper body to openpositions, thus releasing the peeled cover sheet 9, and said gripperbody and the segmental cam are returned to their original positions inreadiness to act on the next card during the next cycle of operation ofthe machine.

The operation of the gripper body 305 is so timed that rocking movementof said gripper body in the cover sheet stripping or peeling directionoccurs after the card is released by the stop finger 235 and as saidcard is being advanced by the conveyor beyond said stop finger towardthe next or succeeding mechanism. In this manner, rockingforward-downward movement of the gripper body 305 is accompanied byforward movement of the card 5, whereby accurate peeling of the coversheet 9 progres sively from the adhesive sheet 7 is achieved withouttearing said adhesive sheet and without displacing the card relative tothe conveyor by said peeling action. Preferably, the rockingforward-downward movement of the gripper body 305 and the starting ofthe card 5 from its arrested position are so relatively initiated that aminute slack in the cover sheet 9 is developed before said gripper bodyreaches its maximum speed and can place the cover sheet 9 under tension.

The card supporting plate 172 is undercut considerably at the locationof the gripper body 305, as indicated at 341, so as to advantageouslylocate said body as close as possible to the card 5 resting on saidplate and thereby decrease the extent of deflection of the cornerportions 9a of the cover sheet 9 by the pins 302. The jaw portions 323of the gripper jaws 321 and 322 are provided with notches 342 in therear edges thereof to receive the pins 302 therein and thereby permitsaid jaw portions to fully close on the stripped and deflected cornerportions 9a of the cover sheet 9. Additionally the jaw portions 323 ofthe gripper jaws 321 and 322 are provided with small pointed pins 343which cooperate with corresponding depressions or recesses 344 formed inthe gripping surfaces 320 on the gripper body 305 to either pierce orindent the deflected corner portions 9a of the cover sheet 9 and therebyaugment the gripping action of said jaws so as to prevent slipping ofsaid corner portions relative to and from between said jaws and saidgripper body during the peeling of said cover sheet from the card. Ifdesired, the pins 343 may be carried by the gripper body 305, and thecompanion recesses 344 may be formed in the gripper jaw portions 323.

The cover sheet 9 is supported by a curved plate-like backing member 345during peeling thereof from the adhesive sheet 7 on the card 5 by thegripper and while the same is carried by said gripper to a positionclear of said card, as hereinbefore described. The backing member 345 isof one-piece construction and is fabricated from electrically conductivematerial, such as sheet steel, for a purpose to be hereinafterdescribed. The backing member 345 is slightly larger in length and widththan the cover sheet 9 and is formed with side extensions 346 whichstraddle the gripper body 305 and by means of which said backing memberis pivotally mounted intermediate the ends of said extensions, as at347, on and at the top of said gripper body. The backing member 345projects rearwardly of the gripper body 305, and the free forward endsof the extensions 346 of said backing member are connected together by aspreader bar 348. The gripper body 305 is recessed, as indicated at 349,at the top thereof to provide suflicient space for the spreader bar 348to enable pivotal movement of the backing member 345 about its pivot347.

The above described swinging movement of the backing member 345 into andout of its operative cover sheet supporting position is effectedrespectively in response to the closing and opening of the gripper jaws321 and 322. For this purpose, the spreader bar 348 of the backingmember 345 has connected thereto one end of a relatively light coilextension spring 350 the opposite end of which is connected at 351 tothe gripper body 305. The spring 350 tends at all times to yieldinglyswing the backing member 345 about its pivot 347 in a clockwisedirection, as view in FIG. 6. Suitably secured in the actuating arm 324for the gripper jaws 321 and 322 is a short pin 352 which projectslaterally from said arm beneath the adjacent side extension 346 of thebacking member 345. As shown in FIG. 6, the pin 352 is so located on thearm 324 that in the normal relative positions of said arm and thegripper body 305 with the gripper jaws 321 and 322 in open positions,the adjacent side extension 346 of the backing member 345 is engaged bysaid pin and through such engagement said backing member is disposed inits normal inoperative position and held against pivotal movement by thespring 350.

It will thus be apparent that when, as shown in FIG. 12, the arm 324 isrocked by the segmental cam 329 to close the gripper jaws 321 and 322into gripping engagement with the stripped and deflected corner portions9a of the cover sheet 9, as hereinbefore described, the pin 352 will bemoved out of engagement with the adjacent side extension 346 of thebacking member 345 and away therefrom a predetermined extent, thusreleasing said backing member and permitting pivotal movement thereof bythe spring 350 to its operative position. It will also be apparent thatwhen the backing member 345 in its operative position has travelledclear of the card supporting plate 172 upon forward-downward pivotalmovement thereof with the gripper body 305 and the gripped cover sheet9, said backing member will be swung farther forwardly by the action ofthe spring 350, said movement of said backing member, however, beinglimited to the broken line position thereof shown in FIG. 12, throughengagement of the side extension 346 with the pin 352. When the gripperjaws 321 and 322 are opened to release the peeled cover sheet 9 at theend of the active stroke of the gripper body 305, the backing member 345in response to said gripper jaw operation is immediately retracted toits inoperative position through movement of the arm 324 and engagementof the pin 352 with the side extension 346, said backing memberremaining in said inoperative position during the return movementthereof with the gripper body 305 and until the gripper jaws 321 and 322are again closed in the next cycle of operation of the machine. When thebacking member 345 is retracted to its inoperative position, saidbacking member and the gripper body 305 occupy the relative positionsthereof shown in FIG. 6, thus permitting return movement of the backingmember without striking the card supporting plate 172.

Means are provided to positively remove the peeled cover sheet 9 fromthe gripper when the same is released by the gripper jaws 321 and 322 atthe end of the active stroke of the gripper body 305, thus assuring thatsaid gripper is cleared of the cover sheet before the same is returnedto its original position to act on the next card 5 during the next cycleof operation of the machine. As herein shown, said means comprises asmall diameter idler roller 353 which is located at the top andcentrally of the gripper body 305 and is disposed within a suitableclearance groove in said gripper body. The idler rolller 353 isjournalled at 354 on the gripper body 305 and it operates between thegripping surfaces 320 and the gripper jaws 321 and 322 on said gripperbody, whereby said roller will be overlapped by the front edge portionof the cover sheet 9 gripped by said surfaces and said jaws and beingpeeled from the card 5. The idler roller 353 projects slightly above thegripping surfaces 320 on the gripper body 305 and it cooperates with alarge diameter rubbertired roller 355 which is disposed adjacent thepath of rocking movement of said gripper body such that it will beengaged by the peeled cover sheet 9 as the gripper body approaches theend of its active forward-downward stroke. The rubber-tired roller 355is journalled on a transverse stub shaft 356 which is fixed at one endthereof in a bracket 357 which is bolted or otherwise suitably securedto the conveyor frame 170. The rubber-tired roller 355 is drivencontinuously in the cover sheet peeling direction, and for this purpose,said roller has secured thereto or formed integrally therewith a spurpinion 358 which meshes with and is driven by a similar pinion 359 whichis fixed on the driven shaft 183 which carries the inclined conveyorroller 177. The pinions 358 and 359 are of the same size and therubber-tired roller 355 is of the same diameter as that of the drivenconveyor rollers and, hence, said rubber-tired roller is driven at arelatively fast surface speed the same as that of said conveyor rollers.

It will thus be apparent that as the gripper body 305 with the peeledcover sheet 9 moves to the end of its active stroke, the idler roller353 will pass the rubbertired roller 355 and in so doing it willmomentarily press said cover sheet into contact with said rubber-tiredroller. Under these conditions and since the cover sheet 9 is stillgripped by the gripper jaws 321 and 322, the rubber-tired roller 355will be ineffective to remove said cover sheet from the gripper body305. However, when the peeled cover sheet 9 is released at the end ofthe active stroke of the gripper body 305 through opening of the gripperjaws 321 and 322 and said gripper body is returned to its originalposition, as hereinbefore described, the idler roller 353 will againmove past the driven rubber-tired roller 355 and momentarily press thenow released cover sheet against said rubber-tired rollers, whereuponsaid cover sheet will be quickly ejected from said gripper body throughrotation of the rubber-tired roller in the cover peeling direction whichaction is augmented by the movement of the gripper body in the oppositedirection. A suitable waste receptacle (not shown) is provided in themachine and located beneath the rubber-tired roller 355 to receive thepeeled and ejected cover sheets 9.

Detector means is provided and associated with the cover sheet grippercomprising the gripper body 305 and gripper jaws 321 and 322 fordetecting the presence and absence of a peeled cover sheet 9 duringrocking movement of said gripper in the cover sheet peeling direction,

and causing stopping of the machine in the event a cover sheet is notpresent and gripped by the gripper during such rocking movement thereof.As herein shown, said detecting means includes the cover sheet backingmember 345, and comprises an elongated feeler finger or probe 360 whichextends longitudinally of the machine and is formed of electricallyconductive material, such as brass. The feeler finger 360 is located sothat the backing member 345 or the peeled cover sheet 9 supportedthereby will yieldingly contact and wipe along the free rear end of saidfeeler finger upon each forward-downward movement of said backing memberwith the gripper. body 305 and forward pivotal movement thereof by thespring 350. The feeler finger 360 is arranged to contact the backingmember 345 centrally thereof and is slidably engaged at the forward endthereof in a suitable opening formed in a block 361 of insulatingmaterial, such as fiber, which is suitably secured to the conveyor frame170. The feeler finger 360 is adjustably clamped in the block 361 by acontact element 363 which is carried by said block and extends at rightangles to said feeler finger. The contact element 362 has connectedthereto one end of a conductor 363 which, together with the backingmember 345, is connected in the electrical control circuit for themachine. The backing member 345- forms in effect a circuit terminal andis connected in the electrical control circuit to ground through theframe structure of the machine which is represented by the conductor 364in said figure.

It will be apparent that as long as the backing member 345 is shieldedby a peeled cover sheet 9 during each forward-downward movementof thegripper during the normal operation of the machine, the feeler finger360 will not be directly contacted by said backing member and, hence,the electrical control Circuit in which said backing member and saidfeeler finger are connected will remain open or broken and the machinewill continue to operate in its usual normal manner. However, should thecover sheet stripping and deflecting pins 302 fail, for some reason, tostrip and/or deflect the corner portions 9a of the cover sheet 9 so thatthe gripper jaws 321 and 322 cannot grip the same, or should saidgripper jaws fail, for some reason, to grip the stripped and deflectedcorner portions of the cover sheet, the backing member 345 being thusexposed in either case will directly contact and wipe along the feelerfinger upon forward-downward movement thereof with the gripper, thusclosing the circuit to effect stopping of the machine in a manner to behereinafter described.

As previously described, the backing member 345 is slightly longer thanthe length of the cover sheet 9 and, hence, said backing member willproject slightly beyond the trailing edge of the peeled cover sheetsupported thereby. In order to prevent a false detecting operation bythe feeler finger 360 and unnecessary stopping of the machine throughcontact of said feeler finger with the unshielded rear edge portion ofthe backing member 345 protruding beyond the trailing edge of the peeledand gripped cover sheet9, said backing member is provided with a gap 365centrally and at the rear edge thereof, and a strip 366 of insulatingmaterial, suchras fiber, is secured to the underside of the backingmember and extends across said gap.

While only one embodiment of the present invention has been described inthe foregoing specification and illustratedin the accompanying drawingsit will be apparent that various omissions and substitutions and changesin form and details of the machine illustrated and its operation may bemade by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention. The present invention may be associated orembodied with other card processing mechanisms as shown in our saidcopending application. It is not intended, however, that the presentinvention shall be limited to the embodiment shown nor otherwise thanthe terms of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for removing from a card a protective cover sheet disposedwithin an aperture in said card and removably adhering to an adhesivesheet secured to one face of said card, the combination of a support forsaid card, means disposed at one side of the card and operable throughthe adhesive sheet for initially stripping an edge portion of the coversheet from said adhesive sheet and deflecting said edge portion beyondthe plane of the other side of said card and other means disposed atsaid other side of said card for peeling the remaining portions of saidcover sheet from said adhesive sheet through said card aperture endbeginning with said deflected edge portion of said cover sheet.

2. Apparatus for removing from a card a protective cover sheet disposedwithin an aperture in said card and detachably adhering to an adhesivesheet secured to one face of said card, comprising a support for thecard having an opening therein registering with the open end of theaperture in said card, pin means arranged at one side of said supportand operable through the adhesive sheet for initially stripping anedgeportion of the cover sheet from said adhesive sheet and deflectingsaid portion through said card aperture end and through said supportopening, gripper means arranged at the other sideof said support andoperable to grip said deflected edge portion of said cover sheet and topeel the latter from said adhesive sheet through said card aperture endand said support opening, means for operating said pin means, and

means for operating said gripper means.

3. Apparatus for removing from a card a protective sheet disposed withinan aperture in said card and removably adhering to an adhesive sheetsecured to one face of said card, the combination of means to feed acard in a predetermined path, a cover removing station in said path,means to stop a card at said station for a predetermined time and torelease said card for movement in said path, pin means at said stationand disposed at one side of the card and operable through the adhesivesheet while said card is stopped for initially stripping opposite cornerportions of the cover sheet from said adhesive sheet and deflecting saidportions beyond the plane of the card through the open end of theaperture in said card, means for operating said pin means in timedrelation to the operation of the card stopping means, gripper meansdisposed at the other side of said card and comprising a pivoted bodyhaving a cover sheet gripping surface thereon, gripper jaws pivotallymounted on said body to grip said deflected portions of said cover sheetagainst said surface, means for operating said gripper jaws toward andaway from said surface, and means for moving said body through anarcuate path away from said predetermined path simultaneously with thereleasing of said card at said station so as to progressively peel thegripped cover sheet from said adhesive sheet.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, comprising cooperating means on saidsurface and said jaws for augmenting the effective gripping action ofsaid jaws.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said cooperating meanscomprises pointed pins on said gripper jaws and companion recesses insaid surface.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said gripping surface andsaid gripper jaws are shaped to conform substantially to the shape ofthe deflected corner portions of the cover sheet.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, comprising a backing member forsupporting said cover sheet during peeling and transferring thereof andmounted on said body for pivotal movement into and out of operativeposition in response to the movement of said gripper jaws to closed andopen positions, respectively.

8. Apparatus for removing from a card a protective cover sheet disposedwithin an aperture in said card and removably adhering to an adhesivesheet secured to one face of said card, the combination of a support forthe card, means to feed a card to said support, means to transport saidcard away from said support, pin means disposed at one side of the cardand operable through the adhesive sheet for initially stripping oppositecorner portions of the cover sheet from said adhesive sheet anddeflecting said portions beyond the plane of the card through the openend of the aperture in said card, means for operating said pin meanswhile said card is at said station and before the operation of the meansto trans port said card from said station, gripper means disposed at theother side of said card and comprising a pivotal body having a coversheet gripping surface thereon, and two gripper jaws pivotally mountedon said body to grip said deflected portions of said cover sheet againstsaid surface, means for operating said gripper jaws toward and away fromsaid surface to closed and open positions, and means for rocking saidbody simultaneously with the operation of said means to transport saidcard away from said support so as to progressively peel the grippedcover sheet from said adhesive sheet, a backing member formed ofelectrically conductive material for supporting said cover sheet duringpeeling and transferring thereof and mounted on said body for pivotalmovement into and out of operative position in response to the movementof said gripper jaws, detecting means in the form of a fixed electricalcontact member arranged adjacent the path of movement of said grippermeans so as to be engaged by said backing member upon failure of saidgripper means to peel the cover sheet from the card, engagement of saidfixed member with said backing member being normally prevented by thecover sheet gripped by said gripper means, said fixed member and saidbacking member being connected in an electric control circuit for themachine and upon contact thereof affecting said circuit to causestopping of the machine.

9. Apparatus for removing from a card a protective cover sheet disposedwithin an aperture in said card and detachably adhering to an adhesivesheet secured to one face of said card, comprising means for movingsuccessive cards through a predetermined path, a cover sheet removingstation operatively positioned along said path, means to stop each cardat said station for a predetermined length of time and then to releaseeach card for movement in said path, means arranged at one side of saidcard at saidstation for initially stripping a corner portion of thecover sheet from said adhesive sheet and deflecting said corner portionthrough said card aperture and into the area at the other side of saidcard, gripper means arranged at the other side of said card at saidstation and operable to grip said deflected corner portion of said coversheet, means operable simultaneously with the release of the card atsaid station for moving said gripper means in an arcuate path away fromsaid card path so as to peel said cover sheet from said adhesive sheetand means timed with said movement of the gripper means for operatingsaid gripper means to grip the deflected corner portion of said coversheet and to release the peeled cover sheet.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, comprising means for removing thepeeled cover sheet from said gripper means when released thereby.

11. Apparatus for removing from a card a protective cover sheet disposedwithin an aperture in said card and removably adhered to an adhesivesheet secured to one face of said card, means for supporting andadvancing successive cards in spaced relation along a predeterminedpath, means disposed along said predetermined path and at one side ofthe card and operable through the adhesive sheet for initially strippingan edge portion of said cover sheet beyond the plane of the card throughthe open end of the aperture in said card, and other means disposed atthe other side of said card for progressively peeling said cover sheetfrom said adhesive sheet through said card aperture end beginning withsaid edge portion of said cover sheet while said card is being advancedby said advancing means.

12. Apparatus for operating on cards each having an aperture therein, anadhesive sheet secured over said aperture at one face of the card, and aprotective cover sheet within the aperture and removably adhering tosaid adhesive sheet, the combination of a continuously driven conveyormeans for advancing successive cards in spaced relation along apredetermined path, operable means along said path for stripping thecover sheet from each card, operable stop means for arresting themovement of each card at said cover sheet stripping means, means formoving said stop means into and out of said path during each cycle ofoperation of said cover sheet stripping means whereby a card will bearrested and released during each apparatus cycle, and wherein saidcover sheet stripping means comprises pin means disposed at one side ofthe card and operable through the adhesive sheet for initially strippinga transverse edge portion of the cover sheet from said adhesive sheetand deflecting said portion beyond the plane of the card through theopen end of the aperture in said card, means for operating said pinmeans, pivoted gripper means disposed at the other side of said card forprogressively peeling said cover sheet from said adhesive sheet throughsaid card aperture end, means for rocking said gripper means in timedrelation to the operation of the means for stopping and releasing saidcard on said conveyor and in an arcuate path so that said gripper meansmoves away from the path of the released and moving card and atsubstantially the same surface speed thereof, and means for operatingsaid gripper means in timed relation with the operation of said pinmeans and with such rocking movement thereof to respectively grip saiddeflected portion of said cover sheet and to release said cover sheetwhen peeled from said adhesive sheet.

19 13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said gripper meanscomprises a fixed jaw and a pivotal jaw, and said gripper operatingmeans comprises a pivotal cam, and means for imparting pivotal movementto said cam in unison with such rocking movement of said gripper meansand ,for imparting pivotal movement thereto relative to sa d grippermeans to effect pivotal movement of said pivotal jaw toward and awayfrom said fixed jaw to closed and open positions, respectively.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 12, comprising means arranged adjacentthe path of movement of said gripper means to engage the peeled coversheet released by said gripper means and remove the same from saidgripper means.

15. Apparatus for operating on cards each having an aperture therein, anadhesive sheet secured over said aperture at one face of the card, and aprotective cover sheet within the aperture and removably adhering tosaid adhesive sheet, the combination of a continuously driven conveyormeans for advancing successive cards in spaced relation along apredetermined path, operable means along said path for stripping thecover sheet from each card, operable stop means for arresting themovement of each card at said cover sheet stripping means, means formoving said stop means into and out of said path during each cycle ofoperation of said cover sheet, stripping means whereby a card will bearrested and released during each apparatus cycle, and wherein saidcover sheet stripping means comprises pin means disposed at one side ofthe card and operable through the adhesive sheet for initially strippinga transverse edge portion of the cover sheet from said adhesive sheetand deflecting said portion beyond the plane of the 'card through theopen end of the aperture in said card, means for operating said pinmeans, pivoted gripper means comprising a fixed jaw and a pivotal jawdisposed at the other side of said card for progressively peeling saidcover sheet from said-adhesive sheet through said card aperture end,means for rocking said gripper means in timed relation to the operationof the means for stopping and releasing said card on said conveyor andin an arcuate path so that said gripper means moves away from the pathof the released and moving card and at substantially the same surfacespeed thereof, and means for operating said gripper means in timedrelation with the operation of said pin means and with such rockingmovement thereof comprising a pivotal cam, and means for impartingpivotal movement to said cam in unison with such rocking movement ofsaid gripper means and for imparting pivotal movement thereto relativeto said gripper means to effect pivotal movement of said pivotal jawtoward and away from said fixed jaw to closed and open positions,respectively, and means arranged adjacent the path of movement of saidgripper means for removing the peeled cover sheet from said grippermeans comprising a roller continuously drivenin the direction ofmovement of said gripper means in peeling said cover sheet from theadhesive sheet, and said gripper means is 20 provided with an idlerroller which cooperates with said driven roller and is overlapped by thepeeled cover sheet.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 15' wherein said driven roller isarranged to contact the peeled cover sheet as said gripper meansapproaches the end of its movement and is effective to remove said coversheet from said gripper means upon the release of said cover sheet atsaid end by said gripper means.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said gripper means isreturned to the original cover sheet gripping position thereofsubstantially immediately following the release of the cover sheetthereby so as to V augment the effective action of said driven roller.

gage and sweep along said 18. Apparatus as defined in claim 15,comprising means arranged adjacent the path of movement of said grippermeans for detecting the failure of said gripper means to grip and peelthe cover sheet from said adhesive sheet, and means operative inresponse to such detection by said detecting means for causing a desiredcontrol action such as stopping of the machine.

19. Apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein said cover sheet detectingmeans comprises a fixed electrical contact member, and a companionelectrical contact member carried by and movable with said grippermeans, said companion contact member being arrangedto enfixed contactmember upon failure of said gripper means to peel the cover sheet fromthe adhesive sheet and to be shielded'by the cover sheet as the same isadvanced by said gripper means past said fixed contact member therebypreventing engagement Qof said companion member with said fixed member,said contact members being connected in an electric control circuit forthe machine and upon contact thereof affecting said circuit to causestopping of the machine.

20. Apparatus for removing a cover sheet from apertured cards comprisingmeans for feeding said cards in a predetermined path, a cover sheetremoving station in said path, means to stop each card at said stationfor a predetermined length of time and then to release the same, meanspositioned at one side of said card for deflecting an edge of said coversheet while said card is stationary, means positioned at the other sideof said card for gripping said deflected edge of said cover sheet, meansfor arcuately moving said gripping means away from said cardsimultaneously with the release of said card whereby as said card ismoved away from said station the cover sheet is progressively peeledfrom said card.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,459,693 6/27Rand et al. l54120 2,560,301 7/51 Morrison 154-1 2,711,984 6/55 Kingman154-120 2,780,284 2/57 Wisti 154-1 EARL M. BERGERT, Primary Examiner.

CARL F. KRAFFT, ALEXANDER WYMAN,

Examiners,

8. APPARATUS FOR REMOVING FROM A CARD A PROTECTIVE COVER SHEET DISPOSEDWITHIN AN APERTURE IN SAID CARD AND REMOVABLY ADHERING TO AN ADHESIVBESHEET SECURED TO ONE FACE OF SAID CARD, THE COMBINATION OF A SUPPORT FORTHE CARD, MEANS TO FEED A CARD TO SAID SUPPORT, MEANS TO TRANSPORT SAIDCARD AWAY FROM SAID SUPPORT, PIN MEANS DISPOSED AT ONE SIDE OF THE CARDAND OPERABLE THROUGH THE ADHESIVE SHEET FOR INITIALLY STRIPPING OPPOSITECORNER PORTIONS OF THE COVER SHEET FROM SAID ADHESIVE SHEET ANDDEFLECTING SAID PORTIONS BEYOND THE PLANE OF THE CARD THROUGH THE OPENEND OF THE APERTURE IN SAID CARD, MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID PIN MEANSWHILE SAID CARD IS AT SAID STATION AND BEFORE THE OPERATION OF THE MEANSTO TRANSPORT SAID CARD FROM SAID STATION, GRIPPER MEANS DISPOSED AT THEOTHER SIDE OF SAID CARD AND COMPRISING A PIVOTAL BODY HAVING A COVERSHEET GRIPPING SURFACE THEREON, AND TWO GRIPPER JAWS PIVOTALLY MOUNTEDON SAID BODY TO GRIP SAID DEFLECTED PORTIONS OF SAID COVER SHEET AGAINSTSAID SURFACE, MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID GRIPPER JAWS TOWARD AND AWAY FROMSAID SURFACE TO CLOSED AND OPEN POSITIONS, AND MEANS FOR ROCKING SAIDBODY SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE OPERATION OF SAID MEANS TO TRANSPORT SAIDCARD AWAY FROM SAID SUPPORT SO AS TO PROGRESSIVELY PEEL THE GRIPPEDCOVER SHEET FROM SAID ADHESIVE SHEET, A BACKING MEMBER FORMED